Pmeufviatic action for musical instruments



(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

C. B. KENDALL.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

No. 606,219. Patented June 28,1898.

9 an n 2 L m 2 WM d n a n m 5 Mk 0% m m'tnesses; 7mm. .XQ

(No Model) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

O. B. KENDALL.

PNEUMATIC ACTION FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Patented June 28,1898.

Witnesses: Invenfor UNTTEn STATEs PATENT CEEicE.

CHARLES B. KENDALL, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN AUTOMATIC BANJO COMPANY, OF NEIV JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC ACTEON FOR MUSICAL ENSTRUEWENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,219, dated Tune 28, 1898.

Application filed March 9, 1898.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES B. KENDALL, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Actions for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic actions for musical instruments, and has for its objects the production of an improved valve for the air-ducts thereof, including also improved means for suspending and maintaining the valve in proper relation to the ducts and for so connecting it with its primary-actuator as to enable it to operate with great ease and rapidity and to seat itself centrally, squarely, promptly, and with perfect certainty over its duct or ducts. The leading features of this invention whereby these objects are attained comprise the form and arrangement of the valve, the manner of its suspension, and the nature of its connection with its actuating means, which latter, as herein shown and described, is of the kind. already well known in this art and designated therein as a primary, which may be a diaphragm or bellows, both of which forms are shown herein.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan, partly in section, taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing also in connection therewith such a motor-bellows as is ordinarily employed to actuate the desired keys, stops, reeds, or other sounding devices of musical instruments. Fig. 3 is a front View in section, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, of a series of three actions. Fig. 4 is a detail view of my improved valve and its connecting-pin. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the diaphragm-primary shown in the previous figures. Fig. 6 is a plan view in section, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 7, showing a modified form of valve and a spring therefor. Fig. 7 is a side view in section, taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an enlarged front view of the pneumatic action shown in Fig. 7 in section, taken on the line 8 8 thereof. Fig. 9 is a plan View in section, taken on the line 9 9 of Fig. 10, showing still another modified Serial No. 678,238. (No model.)

form of valve and its operating means, including a modified form and arrangement of spring. Fig. 10 is a side view in section,tal:en on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is an enlarged front view of the action shown in Fig. 10 in section, taken on the line 11 11 thereof.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the valve 12 is in the form of a hollow cone the base of which is turned outward to form the flange 13, the opposite faces of whichserve as seats for fitting over and stopping the air-ducts let and 15, the seating-faces or the ducts being provided with the usual facings of leather or other suitable material. The conical projection 12' of the valve above its base extends upward into the duct 14, being substantially smaller than the duct to allow the valve to seat itself freely without wedging in the duct, thereby serving to center the valve as it is pushed to its seat against the upper duct 1th. The interior of the cone is recessed to receive the pin 18, upon the end of which the valve is suspended. The valve is contained within a chamber 16, directly over the primary, which is preferably a flexible diaphragm 19 of the form already well known in this art and which therefore need not be particularly described.

As a means for suspending the valve and for raising it at the desired intervals, so as to operate the motor-bellows by opening the duct 15 and closing the duct 14, the valve is connected with the primary 19 by means of apin .or rod 18, which rests upon the primary and extends through the duct 15 into the recess of the valve 12, forming a pivotal point of sus pension for that valve. This mode of arranging and suspending the valve enables it to seat itself firmly and evenly upon either the upper or lower walls of the valve-chamber even though those walls may not be parallel with each other and in spite of local irregularities which may exist in their respective surfaces. The upper projection 12 of the valve serves also at each upward actuation thereof to approximately eenter both the valve and the upper end of the pin 18with the ducts, thereby preventing displacement of the parts and dispensing with the necessity of other devices for holding them in operative position.

The valves, with their respective ducts and primaries, are arranged in series in the usual way along an aetion-containin g case 20. The series of primaries are located in the exhaustchest 22, which extends the entire length of the action-case and is connected by means of the pipe 21 with means for preserving a partial vacuum in that chest. The valve-chambers 16 are separated from the common exhaust-chest 22 by means of a partition 23 and from each other by means of the partitions 21-, each chamber connnunicating with the exhaust-chest 22 by means of its duct 15. Each of the valve-chambers 1.6 is also provided with one of the ducts lat, located opposite to the d not and communicating with the external atmosphere. Each of the 'alvc-chambers 16 is also provided with a pipe 25,leading to the interior of a pneumatic motor, which is preferably a bellows of the usual form, the moving member of which is connected by means of the rod 27 to the devices to be operated, which may be of many diverse kinds and may be adapted to perform various funclions.

The general arrangement and mode of operation of these serially-arranged pneumatic actions are already well understood in this art and will therefore be but briefly explained herein.

The space 19 below each primary 19 communicates, by means of the airpassages 2 and tube 29, with independent openings in a tracker-bar 30, over which is drawn a notesheet 31, of paper or other suitable material, having the perforations 32,whieh are arranged upon the sheet in longitudinal series corresponding in position to the respective tubes 29. Each space 19 also communicates with the exhaust-chest 22 by means of the vent 33, through which the air is exhausted from the space and from the passage 28 and tube 29. As the strip 31 is drawn across the trackerbar by its feed mechanism the perforations 32 pass consecutively across the openings in the trackenbar, and each perforation as it uncovers one of those openings thereby admits atmospheric pressure to the primary 19, thus raising the valve from its position shown in Fig. 2 to that occupied by the middle valve of Fig. In this raised position of the valve the duct 14:, leading to the atmosphere, is closed and the duct 15 is opened, thus estab' lishing direct communication through the valve-chamber 16 and the tube between the interior of the motor-bellows 20 and the exhaust-chest 22, thereby collapsing the motor-bellows and operating the device, with which it is connected by the rod 27. As soon as the perforation 32 has passed over its opening in the tracker-bar the atmospheric pressure is again excluded by the strip. The air contained in the tube :39 and the space 19 is again exhausted through the vent 33, collapsing or lowering the primary 19 and allowing the valve to fall to its normal position. (Shown eams in Fig. This fall oi. the valve closes the duct 15 and again opens the d uct l-l, thereby admitting atmospheric pressure through the tube 25 to the motor-bellows 2i which, under the iniluence of its spring or by any other appropriate means, is again expanded to its pr sition shown in Fig. 2, where it rests until again actuated by a repetition of the process just described, initiated by the passage of the next perforation 32 of the strip 3i over the corresponding opening in the trackerbar.

In the modification of this invention shown in Figs. 6, 7, and S the valve 12 is provided with a spring 17, attached at its rearward end to the wall of the valve-chamber and provided with arms the front ends of which extend upon the opposite sides of the valve and are turned inward toward each other, so as to engage in oppositely-disposed holes in the edge of the flange of the valve, thereby forming trunnions upon which the valve can turn freely. The spring is set so as to normally press the valve downward against the lower wall of the chamber 16*. in this modiiieation the primary 19 is represented as a bellows of the usual construction, to the movable member of which is connected the valve-pin 18. In order to allow of the free angular movements of the movable side of the primary l9 and also to allow of the free oseil-- latory movements of the valve in seating it'- self, as above described, the lower end of the connectingnn 1S is pivotally mounted upon a pin 1), the upper end of the pin forming a suspending-pivot for the valve 12", as described in connection with the previous ligures.

In the modification shown in 5'), 1.0, and 11 the function of the spring 17 of the previous figures is performed by the coiled spring 17. The lower end of this spring engages with the iiange oi the valve 12" by oncircling its conical port-ion, while the upper end thereof extends through the duct 14? and is seated in a cap or bracket 31, attaeherfl to the upper wall of the actiorrcase. Thus the action of the spring is exerted centrally oi the valve and of its pin 1.8 and is applied, as before, at a plane oi the valve considerably be" low its point of suspension upon the valvepin 18. In order to allow of the free angu-- lar movements of that member and also to allow of the free oscillating movements of the valve in. seating itself, as above described, the lower end of the connecting-pin 18" is seated in a deeply-cupped recess of the primary 19. This cupped seat for the pin pro-- vents lateral displacement thereof, while ah lowing of perfect freedom of movement in the desired directions.

The mode of operation of the two modiiica tions shown in Figs. (5 to 11, inclusive, is ex actly like that of the form shown in l igs. Ii to 5, inclusive, s already described.

This improved form oi valve is especially well adapted for suspension and for operation under the influence of gravity, as illustrated in the first five figures of the drawings, inasmuch as the center of gravity of such a form is near to its base and comparatively far be low the point of suspension of the valve upon the pin. In those figures of the drawings in which the influence of gravityis shown to be supplemented by springs it will be noted that the plane of engagement of each form of spring is also made as near the bottom of the valve as possible, being approximately at or near the center of gravity, so as to cooperate harmoniously therewith.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a pneumatic action comprising a valve-chamber connected by oppositely-disposed ducts to an exhaust-chest and to the atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between the ducts and provided with oppositely-disposed seating-faces therefor, and a valve-pin extending from the primary through one of the ducts, and forming a support for suspending the valve at a point substantially above both seat ing-faces of the valve.

2. In a pneumatic action comprising a valve-chamber connected by oppositely-disposed ducts to an exhaust-chest and to the atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between the ducts and provided with oppositely-disposed seating-faces therefor, and a valve-pin pivotally supported upon the primary, and extending therefrom throughone of the ducts, and forming a support for the valve at a point substantially above both seating-faces of the valve.

3. In a pneumatic action comprising a valve-chamber, connected by oppositely-disposed ducts to an exhaust-chest and to the atmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between the ducts and provided with oppositely-disposed seating-faces therefor, and a valve-pin pivotally mounted upon the primary and extending therefrom through one of the ducts and formin g a pivotal support for suspending the valve at a point substantially above both of the reatmosphere respectively, the combination of a primary, a valve located between the ducts,

provided with oppositely-disposed seatingfaces therefor, and having a conical projection extending into one of the ducts to center the valve therewith, and a valve-pin extending from the primary through one of the ducts and forming a support for suspending the valve at a point substantially above both seating-facesrof the valve.

5. In a pneumatic action, the combination of a valve, a primary therefor, and a connecting-pin having its ends seated against the valve and against the primary respectively, and a spring engaging with the valve at a plane between the ends of the connecting-pin.

6. In a pneumatic action, the combination of a valve, a primary therefor, a connectingpin having its ends pivotally seated against the valve and the primary respectively, and

a spring engaging the valve at a plane between the ends of the connecting-pin for pressing the valve toward its primary.

7. In a pneumatic action comprising a valve-chamber connected by oppositely-disposed ducts to an exhaust-chest and to the atmosphere respectively, the combination of a valve located between the ducts, a spring engaging the valve and normally pressing it upon the duct leading to the exhaust-chest, a primary for the valve and a valve-pin extending from the primary through one of the ducts and forming a pivotal support for the valve, the latter being suspended at a point above the plane of its engagement with its spring.

Signed by me, at Boston, Massachusetts, this 5th day of March, 1898.

CHARLES E. KENDALL. 

